Striking workers at Indonesia's Freeport Copper mine, forcing the longest stoppage in the country's mining history.
The strike is now in its third month, but the mining minister said on Wednesday that the wage dispute at the world's second biggest copper mine may now be nearing its end.
(SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) INDONESIAN MINISTER OF MINES AND ENERGY JERO WACIK:
"The talks between the management and union are reaching the end in terms of the pay rise. The union demanded four US dollars per hours and the management saif they will give 3.09 US dollars per hour. This is the latest update I can give you. I hope this issue will end soon."
Even if a pay deal is worked out in the coming days, the main pipeline at the mine that takes concentrate to its port has to be repaired.
Freeport said at the start of November that it could take a month to fix the pipe, which was damaged by saboteurs.
Simon Hanna, Reuters.
